Latch



Nov; 20, 1928.

J. H. BEAN LATCH Filed April 28, 1924 1- 3 k l H 1 m W m w a a 7 4 m J 7 U Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

uNirsusr rEs JAMES H. BEALLOF sisson, CALIFORNIA;

LATCH.

Application filed April 28, 1924. Serial No. 709,573.

The present invention relates to latches for doors and other closures, particularly those that are hingedly mounted. The object is to provide a simple and very effective latch that will become automatically operative to hold the door in its closed position when moved to such position and yet will permit the same to be opened by suflicient pressure.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe retain ing member,

Figure l is a view in elevation of a modified form of construction,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the re-.

tainer shown in Figures 1-6 inclusive.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a portion of a door or other closure is shown at 8, and the frame for the same is illustrated at 9. In the margin of the door, and opening through the free edge of the same, is formed a socket 10, and embracing said portion is a keeper 11 preferably comprising a U-shaped strip of metal, the intermediate transverse portion 12 of which connecting the side legs, extends across the socket 10. This portion is provided with an opening 18. Located in the outer portion of the socket is a latch member in the form of a rotatable ball 14 of reater diameter than the opening 13 and having its outer portion projecting through the same. Acoiled spring 15 is lo- 0 cated'in the socket 710 and is interposed between the bottom of the same and the ball,

being compressed sufficiently to yieldingly urge the ball outwardly through the opening, as will be clear by reference to Flgure 2.

A coacting retaining member is mounted on the frame 9 and preferably consists of a single strip of yielding metal,'having its terminal portions 16 and 17 arranged in right angular relation and connected by an outstanding intermediate bowed portion 18 constituting a projecting striker element. The portion 16 is arranged flat against one side of frame 9 and is provided w th a pitufor a sphere.

and may be mounted m a metallic casing 14" rality of openings through which suitable fasteners 19 may be passed. The portion 17 extends alongside theinner edge of the frame in spacedrelation thereto and has anoopening 20 constituting a socket that receives the projecting portion of the latch ball 14.

When a door and the frame has mounted thereon the coacting members, .it will be evident that ift-he door is swung to closed position'the', projecting portion of the ball latch 1d will strike against the loop 18 and be forced rearwardly thereby, the arm 17 yielding also to the movement of the ball thereover until said ball enters the socket 20, I

whereupon the door will be stopped and upon sufficient opening pressure against the door the ball will ride out of the socket and permit the free openingof the door.

The structure shown in Figures 4P7 inclusive, is very similar to the above described, except that a flatsided roller is substituted This roller is designated 14 placed in the outer portion of the socket; The keeper is designated 11 and the coiled springv acting against the roller 14 is illustrated at 15. The retaining I member consists of angular terminal portions 16? and 17 connected by an integral loop 18*, forming the striker. Obviously this structure operates in the same manner as that above described.

From the foregoing,it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted .to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

What I claim is The combination with a frame member and a closure member having adjacent edges, of

a substantially 'U-shaped keeper embracing the said edge of one member and having an opening through its central portion, a rotatable latch in ember behind the keeper and of greater area than the opening, said latch member projecting through the opening, a

spring bearing againstthe rear side of the latch member to yieldingly hold it in protesting position throu h the opening, and a opening in the first keeper member and snugly receiving the projecting end of the rotatable latch member, said spring being 10 capable of movement toward and from the first keeper member to insure'seid snug reception. 7 V y Intestimony whereof, I aifix my signature.

JAMES H. BEAN. 

